Confrontation Between KJ Noons and Nick Diaz At EliteXC “Return of the King”

KJ Noons had little time to celebrate following his dominant 48-second TKO victory over challenger Yves Edwards in the lightweight championship main event of Saturday’s EliteXC “Return of the King” event in Hawaii as lightweight challenger Nick Diaz entered the cage to call Noons out for a future title bout rematch.

Diaz, who defeated Mushin Corbbrey via third-round TKO earlier in the evening, was immediately held back from Noons by EliteXC in-ring interviewer Bill Goldberg and time is promised to both to discuss a now-inevitable rematch.

Noons talks first, asking the crowd if Diaz deserves a rematch for the EliteXC title which is responded nearly-unanimously with boos. Next, Diaz accuses Noons of being scared of a rematch and Noons responds to the comments by lunging at Diaz before a crowd of security and officials separate the fighters and restore order. Diaz is chased out of the cage in large part by Noons’ father, Karl, and exits with his camp to the dressing rooms while Noons is left to finish his celebration in the cage.

In their first meeting last November at EliteXC “Renegade”, Noons defeated Diaz at the end of the first-round via technical knockout due to cuts on Diaz’s face.

Though there was little doubt that an altercation was going to break out when Diaz was permitted into the cage following Noons’ win, the drama from the near-brawl combined with the controversial stoppage of their first bout make this rematch, which could take place on EliteXC’s third CBS card in the fall, a must-see.